Pei Yunshu pulled Jiang Liuyan aside to chat. Through subtle probing, Jiang Liuyan discovered that Pei Yunshu’s attitude toward her was no different from before, which eased her mind.
Pei Yunshu had always been willful and unrestrained since childhood. When she was happy, she would casually toss even the most precious items to Jiang Liuyan as if they were mere playthings; when she was unhappy, she would vent her bad temper without restraint.
In Jiang Liuyan’s view, Pei Yunshu only treated her this way because she was a cousin living under someone else’s roof, currently residing in the Guogong Mansion.
Nevertheless, Jiang Liuyan still tested the waters. Yesterday, she had secretly cried. Given her aunt’s usual temperament, she should have inquired about it long ago and then comforted her properly.
But yesterday, only an old servant woman came, bringing nothing but some cheap pastries and fruits.
Jiang Liuyan had tossed and turned all night. Yesterday, she had been a bit too hasty, allowing the Crown Prince to escort her home. Given Pei Yunshu’s temperament, if she knew about this, she would have already caused an uproar.
Even though Jiang Liuyan had always carefully gauged Pei Yunshu’s thoughts, no matter how clever she was, she couldn’t tell whether she had unknowingly offended this young lady.
“Speaking of which, Princess Chang’s Mansion held a banquet yesterday. I went first and waited for you for half the day, but you never showed up.”
“Cousin, you mean yesterday?” Pei Yunshu blinked, her gaze drifting, and a flush spread across her face. Jiang Liuyan’s heart skipped a beat—this expression seemed almost like…
“Yunshu, with that look, could it be that you went to see your beloved?” Jiang Liuyan teased, also probing. Since Pei Yunshu’s coming-of-age ceremony, with Jiang Liuyan’s subtle encouragement, Pei Yunshu had developed a strong fondness for Xie Changyan, if not deep affection.
Moreover, Xie Changyan had always kept her at arm’s length. A while ago, he had clearly been able to stir Pei Yunshu’s emotions, but yesterday, Xie Changyan had been with her the whole time.
“How did you know, cousin?” Pei Yunshu widened her eyes, looking both surprised and shy. “Cousin, I’m only telling you this. You mustn’t tell Mother, or she’ll scold me again.”
Jiang Liuyan’s smile seemed to twist for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. She couldn’t panic; she had to stay calm.
“Of course, I’m on your side, cousin. Did you go to see the Crown Prince yesterday?”
Hearing the words “Crown Prince,” Pei Yunshu couldn’t help but pout. “Cousin, what nonsense are you talking? Of course, it wasn’t His Highness the Crown Prince. Cousin, I have someone I like, but I can’t say who it is.”
Impossible. Although she didn’t accompany Pei Yunshu everywhere every day, they still saw each other daily. She should have been the first to know if anyone new appeared around Pei Yunshu.
But this time, she knew nothing at all.
“Yunshu, don’t scare me like this. Such a big matter.” Jiang Liuyan sounded troubled.
“That’s exactly why I can’t say it out loud. Don’t worry, cousin, I won’t put you in a difficult position.” Pei Yunshu’s words seemed entirely considerate of Jiang Liuyan, effectively cutting off any further questioning.
If she asked more, it would seem like she was not knowing what’s good for herself.
“What about the Crown Prince, then? Yunshu, His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have feelings for you.” As she said this, Jiang Liuyan leaned in closer, using a round fan to cover half her face, as if sharing a secret between close friends.
Affection? Pei Yunshu looked at Jiang Liuyan with a hint of surprise in her eyes. Jiang Liuyan also knew that her words were somewhat inappropriate and could easily draw others’ attention.
But this was Pei Yunshu before her. Pei Yunshu was not actually that foolish; it was just that the Guogong Mansion had raised her too well, unwilling to let her experience even the slightest hardship.
Jiang Liuyan was different. She had faced hardships since childhood and, by a twist of fate, had come to the Guogong Mansion. Every day, she lived in fear, terrified of being driven out. From a young age, she had learned to read people’s expressions.
Thus, without the masters of the Guogong Mansion noticing, Jiang Liuyan had already “unintentionally” gained control over this treasured pearl of the mansion.
Sure enough, Pei Yunshu lifted her delicate chin, wearing an arrogant expression. “I know that. But my parents have said that I, Pei Yunshu, need only marry someone I truly love. Even the Son of Heaven cannot force me.”
A faint, lingering bitterness stirred in Jiang Liuyan’s heart, but she was long accustomed to it. Pei Yunshu was the treasured pearl of the Guogong Mansion. No matter how willful she was or how many people she offended, the mansion would always cover for her.
“Yunshu is right. Yunshu is the eldest daughter of the Guogong Mansion. Whatever she wishes to do, she will surely achieve it.”
It had always been like this. Pei Yunshu nodded casually. As a result, this eldest daughter of the Guogong Mansion had earned herself a “notorious reputation.”
“The Crown Prince is indeed quite good. But after all, His Highness holds a noble status. I always feel that His Highness keeps me at arm’s length. Cousin, you know that since I was little, I’ve never had to coax anyone.”
These words now suited Pei Yunshu’s temperament and did not strike Jiang Liuyan as odd. If anything, at this moment, Jiang Liuyan simply felt that Pei Yunshu had indeed been spoiled into a useless person.
That was the Crown Prince, the future emperor, one of the two most esteemed men in the world. When dealing with Pei Yunshu, he had already been exceptionally gentle and patient. Yet, in Pei Yunshu’s eyes, it was not enough to indulge her.
How much more indulgence did she need? Did she expect the Crown Prince of Dachen to bow and scrape before her like a servant?
“Besides, lately, it seems the Crown Prince doesn’t like me very much. Over the past two years, I’ve already been very accommodating toward His Highness. Anyway, my parents aren’t very keen on me marrying the Crown Prince either. Let’s just forget about it.”
Pei Yunshu spoke these words casually, yet they seemed to have been carefully considered.
“Cousin, don’t worry. I already have someone else I like.”
Pei Yunshu emphasized this point, and as expected, Jiang Liuyan no longer intended to continue the conversation. The strained expression on her face was obvious to anyone.
Pei Yunshu did not insist on keeping her, merely watching Jiang Liuyan depart with a faint smile.
“Actually, she hasn’t always been so flawless. It’s just that I never paid attention before. I trusted my cousin so much, yet she has always been guarded against me.”
A figure emerged from the shadows and repeated, word for word, what Jiang Liuyan had just said to her maid.
“Yueying, my cousin cares for me so much, yet her maid is trying to drive a wedge between us. Such a gossipy maid—please inform Mother. Keeping her by my cousin’s side will only cause trouble. Let’s not put my cousin in a difficult position later.”
Yueying nodded. “Yes, I will go and tell Madam right away.”
Pei Yunshu picked up her teacup and took a sip. All that talking had left her mouth parched.
Jiang Liuyan’s words naturally carried nuances she couldn’t detect, but her mother should have been able to discern them.
Thus, whether those words were well-intentioned or not should be determined by her mother.
“Cousin, I should truly learn from you now.”